Strnad Staying Focused Throughout Draft Process
4/10/2020 12:30:00 PM | Football
“I’m just focused on staying strong and staying positive while waiting on the draft." - Justin Strnad
By Les Johns
Linebacker Justin Strnad joined teammates Essang Bassey and Justin Herron in Indianapolis in early March for the NFL Combine. This is the third-straight year multiple Demon Deacons were invited to participate.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Strnad said. "It was awesome. It's a long week of psychological testing. Then you're at the hospital for about 10 hours doing blood work and getting looked over. On the field, I didn't put up the numbers I'd wanted to, but that's not what I've been my whole life.
"I'm a student of the game and know what I'm doing on the field. I'm not some physical freak. I never have been nor ever will be."
In addition to on-field workouts, Strnad also spent time one-on-one with coaches and NFL management.
"It all was a pretty good experience," he said. 'I got to meet with Ron Riveria, who coached at the Panthers for a long time. He was familiar with Wake Forest. I got to speak with some NFL coaches. I was able to hear about how the NFL game works from a scheme perspective, which was awesome."
Since the combine, Strnad has been working out in Florida with trainer Yo Murphy.
"I'm just focused on getting into football shape now," he said. "There's no testing or anything to prepare for. It's just getting ready for camp for whatever team I end up with. I want to show up in shape and ready to perform at my highest level."
Former Wake Forest teammate Jessie Bates, who went in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft to the Cincinnati Bengals, just finished training with Murphy and Strand before heading back home to Indiana.
"He advised me to just keep working and keep in shape," Strnad said. "I need to take advantage of this time between the combine and the draft to be ready. Who knows when things will get started up again?"
Strnad had played in every game in his collegiate career until suffering a torn bicep tendon in the 44-10 home victory over NC State last season. He finished his Wake Forest career with 244 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and four interceptions.
He had multiple team workouts and meetings scheduled leading up to the NFL Draft, which takes place from April 23-25. All those got wiped off the slate with the abundance of caution resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic.
"It stinks just not being able to experience all the pre-draft stuff," he said. "I had some meetings and workouts scheduled. It's not the end of the world, but it would have been nice to have experienced that stuff.
"I'm just focused on staying strong and staying positive while waiting on the draft. It's probably the most exciting thing happening in the sports world right now."
Among his trips was a visit to Winston-Salem for Pro Day, which was scheduled for Thursday, March 26.
"I was going to head up to Wake three weeks before Pro Day and just train there," Strnad said. "There were some teams coming in. But now, there's no point in making that trip."
He's staying in close contact with the Wake Forest staff through his journey the last few months.
"I'm still close to coach Santucci (former linebacker coach, now at Texas A&M)," he said. "We have a close relationship. Coach Clawson has reached out. All the strength coaches stay in touch."
Linebacker Justin Strnad joined teammates Essang Bassey and Justin Herron in Indianapolis in early March for the NFL Combine. This is the third-straight year multiple Demon Deacons were invited to participate.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Strnad said. "It was awesome. It's a long week of psychological testing. Then you're at the hospital for about 10 hours doing blood work and getting looked over. On the field, I didn't put up the numbers I'd wanted to, but that's not what I've been my whole life.
"I'm a student of the game and know what I'm doing on the field. I'm not some physical freak. I never have been nor ever will be."
In addition to on-field workouts, Strnad also spent time one-on-one with coaches and NFL management.
"It all was a pretty good experience," he said. 'I got to meet with Ron Riveria, who coached at the Panthers for a long time. He was familiar with Wake Forest. I got to speak with some NFL coaches. I was able to hear about how the NFL game works from a scheme perspective, which was awesome."
Since the combine, Strnad has been working out in Florida with trainer Yo Murphy.
"I'm just focused on getting into football shape now," he said. "There's no testing or anything to prepare for. It's just getting ready for camp for whatever team I end up with. I want to show up in shape and ready to perform at my highest level."
Former Wake Forest teammate Jessie Bates, who went in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft to the Cincinnati Bengals, just finished training with Murphy and Strand before heading back home to Indiana.
"He advised me to just keep working and keep in shape," Strnad said. "I need to take advantage of this time between the combine and the draft to be ready. Who knows when things will get started up again?"
Strnad had played in every game in his collegiate career until suffering a torn bicep tendon in the 44-10 home victory over NC State last season. He finished his Wake Forest career with 244 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and four interceptions.
He had multiple team workouts and meetings scheduled leading up to the NFL Draft, which takes place from April 23-25. All those got wiped off the slate with the abundance of caution resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic.
"It stinks just not being able to experience all the pre-draft stuff," he said. "I had some meetings and workouts scheduled. It's not the end of the world, but it would have been nice to have experienced that stuff.
"I'm just focused on staying strong and staying positive while waiting on the draft. It's probably the most exciting thing happening in the sports world right now."
Among his trips was a visit to Winston-Salem for Pro Day, which was scheduled for Thursday, March 26.
"I was going to head up to Wake three weeks before Pro Day and just train there," Strnad said. "There were some teams coming in. But now, there's no point in making that trip."
He's staying in close contact with the Wake Forest staff through his journey the last few months.
"I'm still close to coach Santucci (former linebacker coach, now at Texas A&M)," he said. "We have a close relationship. Coach Clawson has reached out. All the strength coaches stay in touch."
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